A Logic Model is a brainstorming tool to help you capture all elements of a proposed project. Think of it as a machine diagram to visualize the inputs and outputs of your project. The project might be for research, teaching or some kind of social intervention.

When devising a project, we often focus on only one element, usually the activity we want to carry out. By laying out the project elements visually, a Logic Model forces us to think about the impact on the one hand (big-picture) and the resources we’ll need to carry out our activity (nitty-gritty details) A Logic Model is a good basis for an outline of a grant proposal, especially if you need to identify areas for data collection or project evaluation. It put the goals and objectives front and center while also leaving room to capture

Research in the 21rst century is a collaborative effort, spanning multiple institutions and often multiple countries. The National Science Foundation accommodates proposals involving multiple institutions in two ways: subawards and collaborative proposals. Which one you choose will depend on the nature of the collaboration and the relationship among the project personnel. Typically, if the Spelman faculty member and the faculty member at the collaborating institution will be considered coPIs, then they should submit collaborative proposals. This allows each institution to submit their own budget and supporting materials (biosketches, Facilities & Resources form, etc.) and, if funded, receive their own award. If the relationship is not that of coPIs (For example, if the other institution will carry out a piece of the project under the direction of the Spelman PI) a subaward may be more appropriate. [Read more…]